Frame structures



E. S- PERSSON FRAME STRUCTURES March 15, 1960 INVENTOR.

f/c J/Gfi/ Pfiso/V BY y March 15, 1960 E. s. PERssoN FRAME STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1959 United States Patent ice FRAME STRUCTURES Eric Sigtrid Persson, Malmo, Sweden Application January 23, 1959, Serial No. 788,687 Claims priority, application Sweden November 8, 1955 2 Claims. (Cl. 20-56.5)

This application is a continuation in part replacing my copending patent application Serial No. 561,092, tiled January 24, 1956, now abandoned and claiming convention-priority from the Swedish patent application No. 10,033/ 55, tiled November 8, 1955. The present application relates back to said application Serial No. 561,092 and to the said Swedish application for all dates and right incident to the filing thereof.

My original application referred to windows, wherein the window sash contains an inward pane, an outward pane and an intermediate pane arranged in the space between said first-mentioned panes and dividing said space into an outward air space and an inward air space. The window sash is composed of an outer frame and an inner frame which are rigidly interconnected into` a window-sash while preventing a heat-conducting metallic contact between the inside of the window-sash and the outside thereof, and in that the outer-frame constitutes a support for the outward pane, while the inner frame supports the inward pane and also carries the intermediate pane. In this construction, the outward air space as well as the inward air space will be limited at theirrcircumference by parts of the inward sash, which at a low outdoor temperature has a considerably higher temperature than that of the outward sash by reason of the heat insulation between the frames. This aids toward keeping an increased temperature in the air spaces, so thatthe risks of water of condensation depositing on the surfaces of the panes facing the air spaces are reduced. The present invention has for its primary object to improve the window frame structure to enable employment thereof not only for windows but also for building walls or panels and further by an improved construction of the inner or main frame supporting the inner pane and the intermediate pane. A further object of the invention is to strengthen the main or inner frame by the improved construction thereof to obtain a stili window frame adapted to carry big and heavy window panes.

The objects of the improvement is obtained substan- 'tially by formingthe inner or main frame with a tubular or boxlike crossl section whereby this frame includes a cavity or air cell extending around the frame, thus improving the heat insulation between the outdoor side and the indoor side of the frame. Furthermore, the tubular or box-like shape of the frame involves an augmented stiffness, whereby the frame is more apt to carry three or more panes even if they are big and heavy.

The invention will be explained more in detail hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figs. l and 2 are diagrammatic perspective views of a couple of diierent window types, to which the invention is applied. Fig. 3 shows a portion of the inner edge of a window-sash constructed in accordance with the invention and having panes inserted into the same. Fig. 4 shows a cross section on line IV-lV in Figs. 1 and 3, and Fig. 5 shows a cross section on line V-V in Figs.

Patented Mar. 15, 17960 2 and, according to Fig. 2, with a sash 4, which is laterally suspended on hinges 5. Y

In the construction according to Figs. 3-5, the sash consists of an outer frame 10 and an inner frame 12 of sectioned metal bars interconnected with an intervening packing 14 of heat-insulating material. The sash contains three window glasses, namely, an outward pane 16, an inward pane 18 and -an intermediate pane 20. The air space between the outward pane 16 and the intermediate pane'20 is designated the outward air space 22, and the air space between the panes 20 and 18 is designated the inward air space 24. The communication between the air spaces 22 and 24 is provided by the fact thatthe edge portion of the intermediate pane 20 is at its actual edge 26 as well as at the lateral surfaces adjacent to said edge located freely in a channel 28 in the sash for a considerable distance of the length of said edge. In orderr that the intermediate pane shall be retained in its place in the middle of the channel 28, distance pieces or supports 30 may be fitted between the edge of the pane and the channel 28. These distance pieces may consist of llets from a soft material, such as rubber, felt or the like. Between the distance pieces there are left openings 31, through which the air passes Yclown from the outward space 22 and about the edge of the. intermediate pane andrup into the inward space in order then to flow past the upper edge in a similar manner.

Theair spaces 20 and 24 are sealed against the surrounding atmosphere by the fact that the edges of the panes A16 and 18 are received in channels 34 and 36, respectively, andk tightening iillets 38 are squeezed between the lateral surfaces of these channels and the window glasses. Similar tightening or holding fillets may be arranged at the vertical edges of the intermediate pane. 20, so that a seal is obtained at these edges for the whole or a portion of the length thereof. The lower edge 26 of the intermediate pane 20 is kept at a suitable distance from the sides and the bottom of the channel 22 by the supports 30, and the upper edge is located somewhat below the upperV limiting surfaces of the sash channel 28, so that air passages are provided both about the lower and the upper edges of the intermediate pane 20 (Figs. 1 or 2, 3 and 5).

yThe inner or inward frame 12 extends in the construc-v tion according to Figs. 3-5, with its outward edge as to the inside of the outward pane 16, and the channel 34, wherein the outward pane 16 is located, is formed between a ange 40 on the outward edge of the inner frame and a ange 42 on the outer frame 10 paralleling the same. The frames 10 and 12 are kept together by means of flanges on the frames engaging each other in the intervening spaces, and the heat insulating packing material 14 extends in these spaces, so that the `inner frame 12 is entirely insulated from the outer frame. Only the inner frame 12 borders upon the air spaces 20 and 24, which for this reason are not cooled down by the cold outer frame 10 at a low outdoor temperature.

Inserted between the frames 10 and 12 is an inwardly facing fillet 44 serving in the closed position of the winddow as an abutting member for the sash composed of the frames 10, 12.

The construction according to Fig. 2 and Figs. 6-8

differs from the embodiment now described substantiallyV Vonly with respect to the shape of the sections of the outer frame and the inner frame 12, which are simpler in regard to the interengaging parts and also by the fact that they are devoid of channels for panes. Thus the intermediate pane has its edges'sunk into a channel`28' in a supporting moulding 46, which is loosely introduced between a flange 48 on the outer frame 10 paralleling the plane of the window and a ange 50 on the innerV frame likewise paralleling the plane of the Window. The edge of the outward pane 16 is located in a channel or rabbet 34 between the flange 48 and a flange 52 on the supporting moulding 46 paralleling the same, and the edge of the inward pane 18 is located in a channel or rabbet 36 between the fiange 50 and a flange 54 on the supporting moulding 46 paralleling the same.

The intermediate pane 20 is retained in the middle of the channel by means of short distance pieces leaving openings 31 between them free, so that air may pass from the outward air space 22 into the channel 28 and beyond the edge of the intermediate pane and up into the inward space 24, as in the preceding embodiment. The upper edge of the intermediate pane is located freely in the channel 28 in a similar manner, so that the air may here also pass freely by, that is to say from the inward air space 24 to the outward air space 22, when the outdoor temperature is lower than the indoor temperature. The outward and inward panes are retained in their places by vmeans of fillets 38, which also seal the air spaces 22 and 24 against the external air.

The profile of the inner frame' 12 is U-shaped, and the profile of the outer frame 10 is substantially T-shaped and introduced between the Shanks of the first-mentioned profile with a pad of a heat-insulating material 14. The Window-sash or wall panel consists of the composed frames 10, 12.

The construction according to Figs. 6-8 facilitates convenient mo-unting even of ordinary window glass, inasmuch as the panes 16, 18, 20 permit of being introduced one at a time. The intermediate pane 20 is inserted into its channel 2S in the supporting moulding 46, before the supporting moulding is introduced into its place in the frame 12. The frames 10, 12 are shut up in each other into the position shown only after the pane 18, the supporting moulding with the intermediate pane 20 and the pane 16 have been located in their places.

Figs. 9-10 illustrates in what manner the inner or main frame (12) may be modified to obtain the improved heat insulation and stiffness.

in Figs. 9-10, 101 designates the main frame consisting of the metal rail of a tubular or boxlike section, and 102 denotes the holder frame, which is made from metal fillets of a simpler cross-sectional configuration. The void of the main frame is designated by 103. Substantialiy outside the latter, the main frame 110 is provided with an outwardly facing channel 104 having a fiange 105 on the holder frame 102 projecting into the same. The frame 102 hereby retains a layer 106 of heat-insulating material between the frames 101 and 102, so that the latter will be heat-insulated from one another. This in turn involves that the main frame 101 facing inwardly toward the room is prevented by heat transmission to the holder frame 102 from assuming the low temperature of the latter frame in cold weather. The void 103 of the main frame also contributes to a certain heat insulation.

In the construction shown, the main frame carries three glass panes, namely, an outer pane 107, an inner pane 103 and an intermediate pane 109. The outer pane is also supported by the holder frame 102, that is to say by means of an inwardly projecting flange 110 of the holder frame. The flange 110 keeps the outer pane 107 against a supporting bed 111, which is formed by a rail from metal, plastic or the like extending along the inner edge surface 112 ofthe main frame. Said rail is formed with a channel 114 for the intermediate pane 109. The

inner pane 108 is retained between -the supporting bed 111 and a gripping fiange 116 projecting removably into a slot 115 of the supporting bed inside the void of the same.

The supporting bed serves not only to keepV the window panes in their places but also to facilitate the insertion thereo-f. In the construction shown in Fig. l0, the supporting bed also has aspecial purpose, namely, to mediate communication between the two air spaces 117 and 118, in which the intermediate space between ,the outer pane 107 and the inner pane 108 is divided through the intermediate pane 109. The channel 114 is understood to be wider than the thickness of the intermediate pane 109, and the intermediate pane is located withits edge at some distance from the bottom of the channel 114, so that air clearances 119 are provided, through which air may. flow from the generally colder outer air space 117 round the lower edge of the intermediate pane 109 and upwardly into the inner air space 118, as shown by the arrows 120. The upper edge of the intermediate pane 109 may be arranged in the same manner as the lower one, whereby the air is permitted at the top to flow from the inner air space 118 back to the outer one 117. Supporting pieces 121 may be arranged at suitable mutual distances to keep the intermediate pane 109 in its proper position in the middle of the channel 114.

The air spaces 117, 118 shut off the outdoor air and the indoor air by tightening strips 122 inserted between the sides of the inner and outer panes 107, 108 on the one hand and the corresponding supporting surfaces of the flanges 110, 116 and of the supporting bed 111 on the other hand.

In cold weather, the main frame generally has a temperature higher than that of the holder frame 102, and as it extends as far out as to the outer pane 107, it will not have a cooling effect on the air in the air spaces 117 and 118. In the construction according to Fig. 10, the supporting bed 111 also forms air spaces 123, 124 toward the main frame, whereby the latter is further insulated relatively to the air spaces 117, 118 between the window panes.

The heat-insulating measures taken aid in combination with the air circulation between the air spaces 117, 118 toward preventing the occurrence of steam orsrnoisture on the window panes.

The embodiments shown have been described with the assumption that the window is brought into use in places where the outdoor temperature is generally lower than the indoor temperature. It is obvious, however, that windows of the described constructions are not only suitable in places with extremely low temperatures, but also have corresponding advantages and function in a corresponding manner at very high outdoor temperatures.

The intermediate pane may possibly consist of some other material than the remaining panes, for instance of coloured glass or plastic. If desired, the intermediate pane may be made from a softer material which is more heat-insulating than the glass of the outward pane and the inward pane.

The main frame 12 of the embodiments shown Fig. 3- 5 and Figs. 6 8, respectively, may be formed with a boxlike web similar to that shown in Fig. l0 to improve its stiffness and the heat or cold insulation qualities of the structure.

What I claim is:

l. A frame structure comprising an outer frame, an inner frame rigidly connected Ywith the outer frame and having a longitudinal communication channel in its inner edge, an outward pane supported by the outward frame, an inward pane supported by the inner frame, an intermediate pane extending with its top and bottom edges into said channel in the inner frame and dividing the space between the outward pane and the inward pane into air spaces communicating by way of said channel, said inner .having a boxlike cross section enclosing an air cavity and a connecting channelvformed at an edge thereof facing outwards in a direction at right angles to the panes, and heat insulating means mounted in said channel between the inner frame and the outer frame to prevent, together with said air cavity, heat transfer between the insiderand the outside of the frame structure.

2. A frame structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the inner frame comprises a supporting bed for the window panes along the inner edge of said inner frame, the communication channel for the intermediate pane being located in said supporting bed, and means sealing the air spaces between the panes relatively to the outer atmosphere.

References Cited in the file of this patent l UNITED STATES PATENTS MacMaster June 28, 193s Haas Feb. 10, 1959 

